A Fall of Moondust

Time is running out for the passengers and crew of the tourist cruiser Selene, incarcerated in a sea of choking lunar dust. On the surface, her rescuers find their resources stretched to the limit by the mercilessly unpredictable conditions of a totally alien environment. A brilliantly imagined story of human ingenuity and survival, A Fall of Moondust is a tour-de-force of psychological suspense and sustained dramatic tension by the field's foremost author.

The City and the Stars

Diaspar is Earth's last city - surrounded by deserts, on a world where the oceans have long since dried up. It is a domed, isolated, technological marvel, run by the Central Computer. Diaspar has conquered death. People are called forth; they live for a thousand years and then are recalled, to be born thousands of years later, over and over again. No child has been born for at least 10 million years. Until Alvin....

The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

2001: A Space Odyssey

It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.

Rendezvous with Rama

At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence.

Time's Eye: A Time Odyssey, Book 1

For eons, Earth has been under observation by the Firstborn, beings almost as old as the universe itself. The Firstborn are unknown to humankind - until they act. In an instant, Earth is carved up and reassembled like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly the planet and every living thing on it no longer exist in a single timeline.

The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke

From early work like "Rescue Party" and "The Lion of Comarre", through classic stories including "The Star", "Earthlight", "The Nine Billion Names of God", and "The Sentinel" (kernel of the later novel and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey), all the way to later work like "A Meeting with Medusa" and "The Hammer of God", this comprehensive short story collection encapsulates one of the great science fiction careers of all time.

The Gods Themselves

Only a few know the terrifying truth - an outcast Earth scientist, a rebellious alien inhabitant of a dying planet, a lunar-born human intuitionist who senses the imminent annihilation of the Sun... They know the truth - but who will listen? They have foreseen the cost of abundant energy - but who will believe?These few beings, human and alien, hold the key to the Earth's survival.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob): Bobiverse, Book 1

Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it's a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street. Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets.

The Stars, Like Dust

Biron Farrell was young and naïve, but he was growing up fast. A radiation bomb planted in his dorm room changed him from an innocent student at the University of Earth to a marked man, fleeing desperately from an unknown assassin. He soon discovers that, many light-years away, his father has been murdered. Stunned, grief-stricken, and outraged, Biron is determined to uncover the reasons behind his father's death.

A Meeting with Medusa

"A Meeting with Medusa" was first published in the December 1971 issue of Playboy. Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most-influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

The Light of Other Days

The Light of Other Days tells the tale of what happens when a brilliant, driven industrialist harnesses the cutting edge of quantum physics to enable people everywhere, at trivial cost, to see one another at all times: around every corner, through every wall, into everyone's most private, hidden, and even intimate moments. It amounts to the sudden and complete abolition of human privacy - forever.

The Last Theorem

The historic collaboration between Frederik Pohl and Arthur C. Clarke is both a momentous literary event and a fittingly grand farewell from the great visionary author of 2001: A Space Odyssey

This is a story of one man's mathematical obsession, a celebration of the human spirit and the scientific method, and an intellectual thriller in which humanity, facing extermination from all-but-omnipotent aliens, must overcome differences of politics and religion and come together or perish.

Ringworld

Welcome to Ringworld, an intermediate step between Dyson Spheres and planets. The gravitational force created by a rotation on its axis of 770 miles per second means no need for a roof. Walls 1,000 miles high at each rim will let in the sun and prevent much air from escaping. Larry Niven's novel, Ringworld, is the winner of the 1970 Hugo Award for Best Novel, the 1970 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and the 1972 Ditmars, an Australian award for Best International Science Fiction.

The Left Hand of Darkness

A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement.

Dreamsnake

When the healer Snake was summoned, she traveled the blasted landscape with her three serpents. From the venom of two of them, she distilled her medicines. But most valued of all was the alien dreamsnake, whose bite could ease the fear and pain of death.

Earthlight

The time: 200 years after man's first landing on the Moon. There are permanent populations established on the Moon, Venus, and Mars. Outer space inhabitants have formed a new political entity, the Federation, and between the Federation and Earth a growing rivalry has developed. Earthlight is the story of this emerging conflict.

Gateway

When prospector Bob Broadhead went out to Gateway on the Heechee spacecraft, he decided he would know which was the right mission to make him his fortune. Three missions later, now famous and permanently rich, Robinette Broadhead has to face what happened to him and what he is...in a journey into himself as perilous and even more horrifying than the nightmare trip through the interstellar void that he drove himself to take!

The Midwich Cuckoos

In the sleepy English village of Midwich, a mysterious silver object appears and all the inhabitants fall unconscious. A day later the object is gone and everyone awakens unharmed - except that all the women in the village are discovered to be pregnant. The resultant children of Midwich do not belong to their parents: all are blonde, all are golden eyed.

The Forever War

William Mandella is a soldier in Earth's elite brigade. As the war against the Taurans sends him from galaxy to galaxy, he learns to use protective body shells and sophisticated weapons. He adapts to the cultures and terrains of distant outposts. But with each month in space, years are passing on Earth. Where will he call home when (and if) the Forever War ends?

Ubik

Glen Runciter runs a lucrative business - deploying his teams of anti-psychics to corporate clients who want privacy and security from psychic spies. But when he and his top team are ambushed by a rival, he is gravely injured and placed in "half-life," a dreamlike state of suspended animation. Soon, though, the surviving members of the team begin experiencing some strange phenomena, such as Runciter's face appearing on coins and the world seeming to move backward in time.

I, Robot

They mustn't harm a human being, they must obey human orders, and they must protect their own existence...but only so long as that doesn't violate rules one and two. With these Three Laws of Robotics, humanity embarked on a bold new era of evolution that would open up enormous possibilities, and unforeseen risks.

Red Mars

Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, Red Mars is the first book in Kim Stanley Robinson's best-selling trilogy. Red Mars is praised by scientists for its detailed visions of future technology. It is also hailed by authors and critics for its vivid characters and dramatic conflicts.

For centuries, the red planet has enticed the people of Earth. Now an international group of scientists has colonized Mars. Leaving Earth forever, these 100 people have traveled nine months to reach their new home. This is the remarkable story of the world they create - and the hidden power struggles of those who want to control it.

The End of Eternity

This stand-alone work is widely regarded as Asimov's best science fiction novel. Andrew Harlan is an Eternal, a member of the elite of the future. One of the few who live in Eternity, a location outside of place and time, Harlan's job is to create carefully controlled and enacted Reality Changes. These Changes are small, exactingly calculated shifts in the course of history, made for the benefit of humankind. Though each Change has been made for the greater good, there are also always costs....

Publisher's Summary

Vannemar Morgan's dream is to link Earth to the stars with the greatest engineering feat of all time: a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems while allaying the wrath of God. For the only possible site on the planet for Morgans Orbital Tower is the monastery atop the Sacred Mountain of Sri Kanda.

The Fountains of Paradise is a beautifully written account of one man's quest to achieve lifelong satisfaction through his works. The primary story is artfully juxtaposed with a parallel quasi-historical storyline. Perhaps Clarke's most underrated talent was his ability to get inside the minds of long-dead characters (see also: the first section of "2001").

Though technically "hard" science fiction, the primary focus of the narrative is on the characters, both future and ancient. The storytelling is deeply satisfying and, in a genre where endings are often pseudo-mystical cop-outs, this book leaves the listener content, with imagination sparked.

Marc Vietor's narration only enhances the experience. He reads thoughtfully and clearly, giving each character enough distinction to make the storytelling easy to follow.

This is hard Sci Fi. It was written in 1978, but is still very topical today. Just last year I listened to a lecture on the building of a Space Elevator which is what this book is all about. In the lecture this book was mentioned along with Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Both books are hard Sci Fi. If you are wanting a good character driven story, then this is not the book for you. If you want facts, figures and like reading manuals on how to build things, then you will love this book.

he latest scheme dreamed up by Dr. Vannevar Morgan, a materials engineer, is either pure genius or pure crackpot: He wants to build an elevator to space. He???s discovered a new material that he thinks is strong enough to withstand the gravitational and climatic forces that would act on such a structure and he???s found the only place on Earth where it???s possible to achieve his dream: the top of the mountain Sri Kanda on the equatorial island of Taprobane (pronounced ???top-ROB-oh-knee???). Unfortunately, this mountain is the sacred home of a sect of Buddhist monks who are not willing to budge unless one of their prophecies is fulfilled.

Dr. Morgan is not the first ambitious man to have grandiose plans for this particular summit. Hundreds of years before, King Kalidasa struggled with the same sect of monks when he built his pleasure gardens. His crowning achievement was the construction of ???The Fountains of Paradise,??? which utilized a pump system and slave labor to propel jets of water high into the sky. King Kalidasa???s pursuits and achievements foreshadow Dr. Morgan???s own desires for the same mountaintop. Both men have ostentatious goals that are ahead of their times, both are revered by some and ridiculed by others, both are plagued by the knowledge that they may die before seeing their dreams come true, and both must consider the possibility that there exists a higher power who may not look kindly upon such brazen displays of human pride and ambition.

The Fountains of Paradise was published in 1979 and won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards that year. The fictional setting is an alternative Sri Lanka, where Arthur C. Clarke lived the second half of his life, and King Kalidasa is based on a real Sri Lankan king.

The Fountains of Paradise is an exciting story that still feels fresh more than 30 years later. The clever juxtaposition of Morgan???s dreams with King Kalidasa???s similar pursuits adds much beauty and poignancy to the tale. Dr. Morgan doesn???t know about Kalidasa until he reaches Sri Kanda, but on the mountain, the grand king comes alive for him and, with Morgan, we experience the beauty of that ancient civilization.

In glorious contrast, we see Dr. Morgan???s stunning vision of Earth???s future ??? people quickly and inexpensively traveling back and forth to multiple space stations that orbit the Earth and are connected to the planet by Morgan???s elevators. This spectacular vision is especially plausible coming from Sir Arthur C. Clarke, whose contributions to the history of geostationary satellite communications is well-known and makes the reader wonder whether this implausible image may someday become reality, just like the fantastic dreams of Morgan and Kalidasa.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for putting The Fountains of Paradise on audio. Marc Vietor???s narration is flawless and I enjoyed every moment of this production. It???s a great time to revisit this classic visionary novel.

Arthur C. Clarke has written many great works, and this numbers among them.

Clarke's sci-fi is always based on reasonable extrapolations from the current science and research of the day. In this case, the idea of a space elevator has moved from pure sci-fi into the realm of the possible. This story primarily dwells on the geo-political issues associated with building the tower, without neglecting the technical issues surrounding the construction and is very believable.

In addition, the story is enjoyable. Well-written, well-paced, and the plot is well-designed. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional.

Marc Vietor's narration is pretty good without being fantastic. He manages to portray the multiple voices and accents well without sounding like a cartoon and paces the narration well.

This is the first Author C Clarke novel I have read in almost 60 years. Released in 1979 is is supposed to be his best novel. It is really not very good, but then from my perspective his novels never were very good.

During my first childhood science fiction was my genre of choice especially in my early teens during the mid to late1950's. That period was the time of the famous three: Author C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. I tried reading Clarke and Asimov, but always went back to Heinlein who to this day remains my favorite science fiction writer. I especially liked Heinlein's juveniles series, but I loved all of Heinlein's works. As I have enjoyed sharing my second childhood with my grandchildren during the last decade, some of them became interested in science fiction and I have read books at the same time as them so we can discuss the novels. During this time I have become reacquainted with the genre. They also much prefer Heinlein but have added Orson Scott Card who began writing science fiction around 1980. The Ender's Game series and all of its spinoffs are their favorites.

The Foundations of Paradise reminds me again that Clarke and Asimov, for all of their fame, pale into insignificance compared to Robert Heinlein who even almost 2 decades after his death remains the king of the genre. Card is second.

This book disappointed just as Clarke's novels written prior to 1960 disappointed me. Clarke did not get better with age and experience.

Technical, political and social obstacles obstruct a dream. These are overcome and the dream becomes reality...and a basis for further Arthur C. Clarke novels. This book is more about the obstacles and human foibles than the sci-fi. If you like that, you'll like the book.

Arthur Clark is so adept at bringing complex science to the masses and the concepts in Fountains of Paradise is no exception. The idea seems so audacious and futuristic that a space elevator could be created that it boggles the mind yet he describes it in such detail and loving attention that I kept thinking "why hasn't this already been done!" I love Clark's fascination with India and how he weaves his own passion for that regions culture and ideals into his books. It brings a depth of flavor to the story that other writers miss telling them with more traditional Anglo-Saxon backdrops. I can feel the spray of cool water and see the splendor of the gardens through his narrative and long to see this beautiful country. Space elevators are now almost common place in science fiction and hopefully someday the idea will have become a scientific reality to bring man to orbit and then to the stars. The narrator was engaging and I loved the flow of his performance, worth listening to again and again.